Hope you enjoy these Q & As with Melanie Hurley, Piggy Paint Founder, as much as I did.
In retail outlets across America and Canada and sold online.
1. Why did you decide to start a company?
In 2008, I was a stay-at-home mom with two very fancy little girls, who loved to have their fingernails painted. I’ve always hated the thought of my kiddos putting their hands in their mouths after I painted their nails with traditional kid polishes. Not only did the ingestion of the chemicals worry me, but the smell nearly left me light-headed after painting two sets of fingernails and toenails.
One day while we were painting nails over a foam plate, my daughter dropped a glob of her solvent-based polish onto the plate. Shortly after, the paint began to bubble and “ate†through the plate. I looked in dismay at the hole in the plate and decided to test all of her other “kid†polishes on the foam. Within minutes, ALL of the solvent-based polishes began to bubble and eventually left big holes in the plate. From that day on, I decided that any flammable substance that could eat through foam was unacceptable for my children’s fingernails, which would inevitably end up in their mouths.
I knew that if I was looking for a kid-friendly nail polish, then lots of other Mommies must be too. My quest began to find a safer alternative, and Piggy Paint was born.
2. What has been your greatest challenge thus far?
Though diving into the business world with a degree in Elementary Education was difficult, my greatest challenge has been trying to balance my business and children. When I first launched Piggy Paint I prayed and hoped it would work, but I never anticipated it would take off so fast and furious! We ran the business out of our basement for quite some time (until the neighbors complained of the semis coming in and out), and even after a couple moves to larger warehouses, I still work from home. It is completely chaotic taking phone calls with two little girls screaming, singing, and pulling at my shirt in the background. I’ve had to hide in bathrooms, closets, and even in my kids’ playhouse while conducting business. It is a great challenge to switch from Mommy to my “Business Woman†persona in a split second. Things happen so quickly in both worlds!
3. What one piece of advice would you give a young woman contemplating a switch to entrepreneurship?
If you have an idea that you know is fabulous and unique, you often have one chance before somebody comes up with same idea! Go for it!
